Method for treating steel and iron in their manufacture.



' TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. GOSTLING, OF EUSTIS, FLORIDA.

METHOD FOR TREATING STEEL AND IRON IN THEIR MANUFACTURE.

i ,oeneso.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that'I, CHARLES a citizen of the United States, residing at Eustis, in the bounty of Lake, State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods for Treating Steel and Iron in TheirManufacture; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inowing to the presence of an excess of gases,

piping and blow holes, the ingot being unclean and when same is rolled the product does not possess the requisite tensile strength, ductility and clear surface.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved method of treating steel and iron in its manufacture whereby all gases will be drawn from the product, piping prevented, and the presence of blow holeseliminated so that when the product is rolled it will possess maximum tensile strength, ductility, and a clear surface. 7

In carrying thefinvention into practice I place a quantity of diatomite or infusorial .earth sometimes known as Kieselguhr in' a mold, ladle or furnace and then fill same with the molten steel or iron it is desired to treat. afterwhich I place a quantity of diatomite or infusorial earth upon the top. of the molten steel or iron. The steel or iron delivered to the mold or ladle and engaged with infusorial earth or diatomite in the manner referred to will remain' in a molten state much longer than under ordinary con ditions of casting an ingot. As a result of the steel remaining ina molten state over a prolonged period the gases contained therein will have ample time to escape and such It. Gosrmnc,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented'Ma 24, 1914, Application filed June 12, 1913 Serial No. 773,310.

escape of the gases is accelerated by the absorbent qualitiesof the diatomiteor infusorial earth. Inthis Way the ingot will be completely cleared and rendered free from pipmg and blow holes. The 'steel or iron thus treated will possess, when rolled, great tensile strength and ductility togeth'er with an absolutely clear surface; The reason for the diatomite 0r infusorial earth maintaining the steel in a molten state over a prolonged period is not known at this time but actual-practice has proven such to be the case.

It will be noted that as the molten steel or lronis poured into the ladle the diatomite inthebottom of the ladle rises upon the top of the molten mass but does not pass through the same. In this way the diatomite forms a blanket which protects ,the molten mass from the atmosphere during the operation of pouring and as afresult-the temperature of the mass during the operation of pouring is lowered very little owing to the blanketing action of the diatomitef What I claim is The herein described method of treating steel and iron in its manufacture consisting of placing a quantity of diatomitelor infu .sorial' earth upon the bottom'of a .reheptacle,

filling said receptacle with molteniflsteel or iron and entirely covering the expozsed face of the molten steel or iron with a quantity of diatomite or infusoria-l earth, and thereby maintaining the steel or iron in a. molten state beyond the normal time required for solidification to allow the escape of all gases from the molten mass under the influence'of the tendency of such gases te', rise and expand, and under the influence oil-"the absorbent qualities of the-diatomite orlinfusorial earth.

In testimony whereof, I afiix .my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES R. GOSTLING.

W. M. SIMMONS. 

